SWPPP – Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan and Stormwater Inspections
What is a SWPPP?
A Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan or commonly referred to as SWPPP is a project-specific document that details the requirements to eliminate potential harmful discharges related to construction activities.
How a SWPPP
Helps You
A SWPPP is required for any construction or demolition activity including clearing, grading, grubbing, or excavation activity that results in a land disturbance of equal to or greater than one acre as required by the Construction General Permit (CGP) and overseen by the California State Water Resource Control Board. For more information on specific requirements please visit: Construction Stormwater Program | California State Water Resources Control Board
SWPPP Requirements and Categories
A SWPPP must be written and certified by a Qualified SWPPP Developer (QSD). Each project is assessed and implemented at a specified risk level or type to ensure the surrounding water quality is protected throughout the life of the project. SWPPPs are broken down into the 8 following Categories:
- SWPPP Requirements
- Project Information
- Best Management Practices (BMP)
- BMP Inspection (QSP), Maintained, and Rain Event Action Plans (REAPs)
- Training
- Responsible Parties and Operators
- Construction Site Monitoring Program
- Appendices – Site Maps, Amendment Logs and Inspection Reports
Activities Covered Under the Construction General Permit
- Construction activity resulting in a land disturbance of equal to or greater than one acre
- If land disturbances of less than one acre occur within a larger common plan of development that is equal to or greater than one acre
- Linear Underground/Overhead Project examples:
- Underground utility mark-out
- Potholing
- Stockpile and borrow locations
- Existing pavement removal
- Access road construction
- Pavement repair or replacement
Each project covered under the Construction General Permit must assign a Legally Responsible Person who is responsible for obtaining coverage. To obtain coverage you must file Permit Registration Documents which includes:
- Notice of Intent (NOI)
- Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) – Requires QSD
Once all the required documentation is submitted including the SWPPP, your project will be ready to break ground. However, the last step in ensuring that you remain in compliance with the CGP is to assign a Qualified SWPPP Practitioner (QSP) to the project to perform the required services which includes:
- Weekly Inspections
- Rain Event Driven Inspections
- Rain Event Actions Plans (REAPs)
- On-Site Training
- SMARTs Database Assistance
- Annual Reports
- Change of Information (COIs)
- Notice of Termination (NOT)
Failure to obtain a SWPPP or not complying with the SWPPP requirements can have significant penalties. Any person who violates these regulations may be subject to fines of $37,500 per day of violation or imprisonment.
Related Services
Active Engineering Services provides all SWPPP related services to ensure our clients remain compliant to the various requirements. These services include the development of the SWPPP plan design as well as the implementation of the SWPPP plan through weekly and rain event driven inspections. All our QSD and QSPs are Registered Civil Engineers and recognized as a member of the California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA).
For more information on QSD and QSP services offered by Active Engineering Services, please give us a call and let us help ease the responsibility of these requirements.